Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Enchanted Bog Walk

Walking through an enchanting bog a few weeks back, I came across a large colony of Sarracenia purpurea, commonly known as pitcher plant. In the winter the leaves turn a beautiful reddish color and provide sharp contrast when in snow.

The really cool thing about pitcher plants is that they are carnivorous. Check out the video above. Insects get stuck in the plant tube, often drowning in the water that collects in the bottom. The unlucky creatures are prevented from escape by the fine, downward-facing hairs on the interior of the tube. Digestive enzymes made by the plant and aided by bacteria turn the insect into plant food.